he was in the roosevelt room earlier in the day making a major announcement as well. tell our viewers about that. >> reporter: that's right. he used this opportunity to get one cabinet announcement under his belt. but he waited long enough to let -- it took long enough that susan rice first dropped out under pressure. that left john kerry as the last one standing and it's clear here at the white house the president and his aides expect kerry's confirmation to go very smoothly. you can even see and feel that in the way the president announced john kerry has his choice to be secretary of state. listen. >> over these many years, john's earned the respect and confidence of leaders around the world. he is not going to need a lot of on-the-job training. he has earned the respect and trust of his senate colleagues, democrats and republicans. i think it's fair to say that few individuals know as many president and prime ministers or grasp our foreign policies as firmly as john kerry. and this makes him a perfect choice to guide american diplomacy in the years ahead. >> report